The Texas Broadband Development Office (BDO) has updated their Texas Digital Opportunity Hub. The improved website is a powerful tool for libraries looking to strengthen their broadband capabilities, expand services for patrons, and close the digital divide in Texas. More data and information have been added, and features have been enhanced. The BDO created this…
As the new year has well and truly begun, many people reflect on the past, seeking to understand where they come from, who their ancestors were, and how their family’s history shaped their present. One of the best ways to begin exploring their roots is to visit their local library. Frequently, small rural libraries serve…
Upcoming Opportunities These opportunities are available for free unless otherwise noted. Descriptions are provided by host organizations. Competitive Grant Applications Open The application cycle for TSLAC’s state fiscal year 2026 competitive grants is now open: Grant guidelines for the programs, as well as specific information about the application process, past recipients, and additional resources are on…
Public libraries have always played a key role in connecting their patrons to crucial, life-saving services and resources to improve their lives, and they can do this by making partnerships with local, state, and national organizations. A partnership program offered by the Texas Health and Human Services (HHSC) is a great opportunity to enhance library…
The Texas State Library and Archives Commission’s annual speed test for Texas public libraries begins in February. Public libraries all across the state will be receiving a link, via email, to perform this simple but important test to gather critical data on the status of library broadband across the state. A library providing broadband, or…
I hope you all were able to rest over your holiday season. May 2025 be kind to us all. This update has a lot of great information! Upcoming Opportunities Take Your Child to the Library Day in February By registering your library to celebrate TYCLD, you can use the beautiful graphics by Nancy Elizabeth Wallace,…
On the last Thursday of most months, the Innovation and Technology Round Table (ITRT) of the Texas Library Association (TLA) hosts a series of FREE half-hour Zoom “Tech Chats” featuring the innovative, award-winning work of Texas libraries and some quick overviews of the latest emerging technologies through a library lens. All Texas library staff are…
The E-rate Application Window for 2025 closes on March 26 (with the first form due mid-February), so act now! If you’re from an accredited public library and want to apply for this funding, TSLAC offers free E-rate consultants as part of its Libraries Connecting Texas (LCT) program. Please contact Henry Stokes at LDO@tsl.texas.gov as soon as…
Some Texas libraries may receive an email request from the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) to complete a survey on library facility conditions. GAO will be reaching out to a sample of libraries and museums, and TSLAC encourages you to participate if you receive the survey. GAO has been mandated by Congress to independently review…
As the Library Community Engagement and Outreach Coordinator at TSLAC, I went to the Library Marketing and Communications Conference in St. Louis last November. While there, I was able to participate in many sessions covering social media, fundraising, outreach, and other marketing efforts at libraries all over the country. In my final session, I saw…